Panther Spikers SNC VB Tourney Runner-up

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Published on Monday, 01 November 2010 21:52

Written by thenebraskasigna

Black Cats.

For the fourth time this season, the Fillmore Central volleyball team found playing Sandy Creek was more trick than treat. This time, a defeat at the hands of the defending Class C-2 (now C-1 with the addition of the Clay Center School District) State Champions cost the Panthers the chance of winning the Southern Nebraska Conference (SNC) Volleyball Tournament.

The 25-2 Cougars defeated upset-minded FC 25-19, 25-17, 25-21 Friday night in Milford in the SNC final. Four of the 23-7 Panthers' losses this season have been to SC. FC entered the October 29 contest as the winners of seven straight matches including an impressive two-set victory over 24-2 Thayer Central in the SNC semi-final.

The senior-laden Cougars parlayed several FC hitting errors and missed serve opportunities with a persistent hitting attack to win the first two sets. The Panthers forged out to a 7-5 lead in the third set before the Cougars rattled off eight straight points to lead 13-7 and never relinquished control of the match. After an opening-round match with talented Lincoln Lutheran in the C1-2 sub-district opener, FC could square off with SC again in the sub-district finalat Norris High School at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 2.

Malone and Loontjer both belted six kills in the Panthers' 25-19, 25-15 victory over Thayer Central last Tuesday. Heather Broman and Christa Scott both thumped three kills for FC and Maloley added one termination. Norvell tallied 19 assists in the victory.

Kelsey Swartz paced the Panther defense with seven digs and Malone added five. Maloley posted seven ace blocks against the Titans and both Loontjer and Norvell had three. Broman and Scott both notched two ace blocks. Malone smacked two service aces and Norvell laced one ace serve down.

The Panthers began SNC Tournament play last Monday with a 28-26, 25-12 victory over Heartland in Geneva.